Garden Tip: Plastic mesh baskets have many uses

You've just eaten the last strawberry from the basket. Wait, don't throw away that basket! Plastic mesh baskets have many uses in the garden.

They can be used to protect newly sprouted seedlings from birds or to support melons and squash. Keeping the fruits off the soil surface protects them from soil-borne insects and disease.

Plastic baskets also can be used to start seeds indoors. By lining the basket with newspaper, filling it with potting soil and planting with just a few seeds, you will have a container that can be easily transplanted to the garden.